Book: Mother Teresa of Calcutta

In celebration of Mother Teresa’s canonization on September 4, the Augustine Institute is proud to release Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait, a compilation of first-hand accounts of the humorous, gifted, wise, and arresting woman from Albania, written by her close companion, Fr. Leo Maasburg. One of the most important figures of the 20th century, Mother Teresa’s life sounds like a legend. The Albanian girl entered an Irish order, went to India as a missionary, and became an “Angel of the Poor” for countless people. She brought the message of Christian love for one’s neighbor from the slums of Calcutta to the whole world.

In his work, Fr. Leo peers into the personal life of the legendary Teresa of Calcutta. Fr. Leo traveled with Mother Teresa throughout the world, acting as a spiritual advisor, translator, and confessor, and witnessed countless miracles and incredible little-known occurrences. In his personal portrait of the beloved nun, he presents charming and inspiring stories about her that most people have never heard, wonderful and amazing stories about miracles, small and great, that he was privileged to experience at Mother Teresa’s side.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta reveals the soon-to-be-saint’s remarkable and seemingly contradictory ability to be small and great at the same time; it tells of the humble woman who regularly acted as a janitor and the tenacious woman who confidently negotiated with militant dictators. Recounting experiences in India, Rome, Moscow, New York, and more, Fr. Leo shows the heart of Mother Teresa’s work: her limitless trust in God’s love, of the way the power of faith can move mountains, and of hope that can never die.

The book has already received praise from notable Catholic figures. Fr. Larry Richards, the author of Be a Man!, adamantly expresses, “Msgr. Leo Maasburg gives us such great insight into this very human and very holy saint. Read this book!” Alice von Hildebrand, The Privilege of Being a Woman, adds, “Mother Teresa’s daily life can be put in two powerful words: holy daring. The mysterious language spoken between God and the saints is the firm belief that everything, absolutely everything, is a message of His love.”